Goodbye Picnik, Hello iPiccy

I started using Picnik, online photo editing software over a year ago and I'm sad to see them close down today. They were so easy to use and very popular, I have no idea why they are leaving. Something about a merger with Google Plus. They have handled the closing really well- refunded any upgrades paid out, given lots of notice so that people can snag pictures saved in their online library, and even offered alternatives. 

One such alternative they linked to in an email with iPiccy, which I believe was started by former Picnik employees. I tried it out and love it! It has all the features of Picnik I loved plus more!

Here is my first iPiccy edit.... Abby in the bluebonnets. If only I could edit her a smile! The picture had so much more potential with the bright blue of the flowers.

Here is my edited version. I popped the colors more, did a cross process, and added highlights and shadows. All of it is super simple- just press buttons and if you like the change, hit apply or hit cancel and move onto the next edit.

Goodbye Picnik and Hello iPiccy! Thank goodness I have a replacement option!

Scroll down to enter the Me and Lulu giveaway! Winner will be drawn on May 1st.

I Am Addicted To...

... redesigning my blog header! My heavens- I change my family blog about once a month, but sometimes every 2 weeks. I seriously have so much fun doing it. I have designed for friends, but love to just do my own blog on a Sunday afternoon while Abby naps.

Here are a few ideas in case you, too, have the addiction!

I buy almost all of my kits from Sweet Shoppe Designs, usually on Saturdays when they take 10% off new arrivals.

I use my Scrapbook Factory Deluxe software and Photobucket to upload.

I can design a blog header and upload, start to finish, in about 30 minutes.

I'd love to see your blog design, too! Just leave me a comment with a link.

I'm always looking for new ideas and even created a new board on my Pinterest page for blog headers I love.

Happy Blogging!

Playing With Picnik

Have you heard of Picnik before? It is like Photoshop for Dummies! I say that with lots of love- I own Photoshop and can not figure it out to save my life! My friend Erica recently posted a Picnik tutorial. Read it here- very helpful! I read it and started playing and couldn't stop- every photo needed a little something.

I like playing with 1960's, HDRish, Cross Process, and Ortonish.

Here are some favorites...

Have fun with it- really cool site, free, no email registration even!

Snowing on My Blog

I love snow provided I am home with a fully stocked pantry, a good book or full DVR, and a content toddler. It never snows like that at my house!

If you'd like snow on your blog because that is so much easier to deal with, here is the code and easy directions.

Enjoy!

Color Matching on Your Blog

When I think of beautiful colors, I think of trees in the fall. I would love to live in an area that had this kind of beautiful color on display. I promise I would never take my surroundings for granted. Where I live, spring is when Mother Nature brings out her beauty. The open fields become alive with wildflowers. A field of bluebonnets is a sight to see.

Making your blog come alive with the right colors is super easy. My friend Erica shared this free download with me and I use it whenever I do a blog redesign.

Once you run the software (I just keep it on my desktop), you can paste a picture (typically my header) into the pop-up window and then as you roll over parts of the picture it will give you the HTML code for that color. That HTML code can then be plugged into Blogger when you are in the design function.

Happy Color Matching!

I want to talk back!

I upgraded the site today with Disqus. Hopefully you have seen it and used it with other blogs. I hate not being able to comment back to you all and hope this helps. When you leave a comment, you'll be asked your email address and your blog site if you have one. It'll make my life easier to meet you all and respond to your questions and loving comments.

Thanks for continuing to play along!

If you are interested in better managing your comments, Disqus is free and easy to install!

It is Snowing!

.... on my blog at least. Get your snow here.

Christmas Blog Templates

Is your blog ready for Christmas? Here are a few of my favorite free templates.

Retro Christmas from Smitten Blog Designs. Their 2-column designs are free, but they will charge you to convert it to 3 column. Scrappin' Blogs has some cute vintage-inspired 2 and 3 column templates, like this one.Simply Blog It has this gorgeous black and white metallic-looking template.
Of course, Cutest Blog on the Block has the most options including this one.
I love the peppermint candy feeling of this template from Delightful Dots.
Delightful Dots also has a list of all of the template sites she knows of and there are a good 15 or more that I haven't seen. Happy Template Shopping!

My new template came from Aqua Poppy Designs.

Free Halloween Blog Templates

Make sure everone knows the witch is in on your blog with this collection of FREE spooky blog templates- go find your favorite!

Scrappin' Blogs- that's where I find this one! I love the glitter!

Simply Blog It Backgrounds- the webs design would be great fun with orange and apple green text.

Shabby Blogs- my favorite is Spookadot!

Hot Biggity Blog- ooh how I love the orange diamond pattern!

Delighful Dots- Day 3 of the free blog templates is my favorite, can you tell I love me some polka dots?

Cutest Blog on the Block- A Jolly Halloween almost made the cut on this blog!

Cute Free Blog Templates

I honestly could change up my blog every week. I love playing and resdesigning! Check out this cool FREE website with some adorable blog templates. Love it!